OPP stress common sense key to safety to prevent needless summer tragedies
Westernt Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are again reminding citizens of the importance in making sure common sense is utilized throughout the summer months in all activity.
OPP across the province have responded to a wide variety of incidents in which citizens have been injured or killed. Incidents included everything from children and pets being locked in overheated cars, drowning, workplace injuries, marine incidents and vehicle crashes. The common denominator in most cases was that common sense was not used, police state.
“It is understandable that sometimes terrible things happen that are out of our control but everybody’s goal should be to lessen the chance of things going wrong by using common sense and obeying all the safety rules in place,” police note.
OPP urge everyone not to take unnecessary risks and be alert to their surroundings at all times. Simple things like; wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) for weak or non-swimmers near water, wearing a lifejacket or PFD in a boat instead of sitting on it, supervising children at/near pools or other bodies of water, driving/riding/boating sober, wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle or ATV, not texting or talking on the phone while driving and obeying the speed limits can all reduce the chances of injury or death.
“Summer time should be a time filled with memorable experiences for everyone, not a time marked by the loss of a loved one as a result of a predictable and preventable tragedy,” stated OPP Chief Superintendent John Cain.
